With the line-up of professionals, judges and hosts confirmed in addition to the first two celebrity contestants, preparations for the 2026 edition of Strictly Come Dancing are very much under way.
With Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe set to take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, attention now firmly heads over to the potential cast list for the 24th season of the long-running BBC series.
With two celebrities already confirming their involvement earlier this week, a third famous face teased during an appearance on Loose Women that they would be taking to the iconic ballroom floor.
Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 – including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV
Jake Quickenden, who has appeared in I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Dancing on Ice, has been heavily linked with Strictly over the past couple of months, and the star dropped a big hint that he could be a part of the 2026 line-up.
In today's episode of Loose Women, Quickenden introduced a competition for viewers of the ITV series. After he finished his segment, panellist Kaye Adams - a former Strictly star herself - quipped: "It's a 10 from me."
What to Read Next
Adams's comment drew laughter from her co-stars, with Quickenden chucking as he said: "Honestly!" He hurried off stage, but it may not be long before we see him elsewhere if this hint is anything to go by.
If the rumours prove to be true, it may not be long before an announcement is made, with EastEnders and Our Girl star Lacey Turner becoming the first celebrity to be confirmed for the 24th season.
"I am so excited to be making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly" she said. "I am a huge fan and can't quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!"
Related: Karen Hauer speaks out after Strictly Come Dancing exit: "It's very pressurised"
The actor will be joined by Dani Dyer, with the Love Island star getting a second crack at the competition after she had to withdraw from last year's season due to an injury sustained in training.
"I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September," said Dyer. "I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one. I'm just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!"
Strictly Come Dancing returns on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in September.
Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.
The new edition of Living Legends, a collector's edition exploring the royal family, is here! Buy The Royals in newsagents or online.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
